Russia crashes out of men's ice hockey; Canada to face USA in semifinals

Was hoping for a Canada vs US final. Their first game was amazing. I do feel they're the two strongest teams so it seems rather unfair that a weaker team has a chance to play for silver than both of these teams.

I'm going for Sweden-U.S.A. final, not sure on who I'd say wins, but the U.S. looks very strong indeed. If Kane woke up and started playing like he usually does, it's a U.S. gold for certain. But in 1-game tournaments it's all about having a solid goalie. And when Lundqvist is on fire, he's the best in the world.

Crosby has been invisible, and don't even get me started on Kunitz= the biggest waste of space on the Canadian team, and the biggest mistake in recent memory. He's been awful. A joke. An unfunny joke. He stinks.

The U.S. will play it rough. The Backes/Callahan/Brown line is great to watch, and I'm sure they'll bang more than a few bodies against Canada.

I'm torn on who I want to win the game. I was born in the UK, raised in Canada and the U.S. (mother is Canadian, father American) So, I just hope it's a great game to watch.

Hyvä Suomi! :D

tmarieFeb. 20, 2014 - 08:10AM JST Was hoping for a Canada vs US final. Their first game was amazing. I do feel they're the two strongest teams so it seems rather unfair that a weaker team has a chance to play for silver than both of these teams.

Sorry but did I read rightly here? Weaker teams? In the IIHF World Rankings Sweden are ranked 1st while Finland are 2nd. Just because neither Sweden or Finland is fully stacked with NHL players doesn't mean they are 'weak'. Both teams are very disciplined and very very hard to play against. Bit of information on my nation (Finland). We are the only nation to of won a medal in the past 4 Olympics. We also won gold at the 2011 IIHF World Championships. Meanwhile during Sochi 2014 Finland have displayed a very strong and disciplined approach to all their games despite the fact 4 of our main center forwards are out injured!

KariHaruka Feb. 20, 2014 - 09:22AM JST Just because neither Sweden or Finland is fully stacked with NHL players doesn't mean they are 'weak'. Both teams are very disciplined and very very hard to play against.

If these teams from Sweden and Finland compete in 82 game season in NHL, they would finish last. Compared with most of the Sweden and Finland players that play in Europe, teams like Russia that is stacked with NHL and Russian league's top players never practiced with each other, or had many exhibition games prior to Olympics game. It is a short series, and even with the best players, their timing is off due to unfamilar teammate, and they don't want to risk injuries. Even their top Russian player, Ovechkin is not much of defensive player. However, Canada and U.S. teams have all NHL players, and face each others during the season, they understand the players capability.

USA ! USA ! USA ! Gonna be great game, no doubt !

I agree with Probie...after watching that Latvia game last night I think the Americans are going to easily knock them out. All I see from team Canada is really effective cycling in the corners but useless peripheral shots at ridiculous angles......Also...WTF is Rick Nash doing on this team....lumbering around out there on this big ice?? At least let Subban play to make it somewhat interesting. Come on Team Canada...light a fire under your arses or the Yanks are going to embarrass you.

USA-Sweden final.

Go Sweden!!!!!!!1

Good on you, tmarie. Can't understand the thumbs-down. Probie, small bet - Canada vs Sweden for the gold. No picking the winner. BPoint, I had to vote you back down to zero. Good comments, until that last sentence.

@BPoint

The other teams are so concerned with stopping Canada's forwards, that they're leaving themselves open to shots from the blueline. Look at how many of Canada's goals have come from the D.

I completely agree about Nash, but Kunitz is a million times worse.

Anyone who loves hockey has to be excited about both of the semi-final games. I'd love to see a Canada-Sweden final, but I think it'll be USA-Sweden. With Canada getting the bronze.

The Canada-USA game is going to be a WAR.

Sfjp330... You are exactly right. The Russian team has no chance to practice since they arw pretty much stacked with NHL players and rules of the Olympic tournament are different. If the 3rd goal was counted in the USA vs Russia game then the story would be different. The fact that the goal was not counted even though by NHL rules it should have been and no penalty was issued to quick for dislodging the goal(which he has done many times in the NHL) shows that its not just skill that's nessesary to win an Olympic game but precise knowledge of every loop hole in the rules. By all rights Russia should have won that game. they are clearly a more talented team. As for the finals...USA definitely will not make the final and it will probably be Sweden vs finland or Canada.

USA vs Canada - Semi Final. Ice Hockey can not get better than this.

The rivalry, the intensity, revenge for last Olympics. It promises to be unbelievable.

1 thing though, IF ITS ON BS1 and NOT NHK I WILL GO ABSOLUTELY MENTAL.

What do I pay NHK for??????? To watch ridiculous stupid TV that I can not understand.

When the Olympics comes on (which is once in every 4 years) and you show a highlight of someone coming 18th in a freaking spandex coasting around a rink and not Ice Hockey. FML

@Christopher Uppington: LOL. Yup. You hit the nail on the head.

KariHaruka: Sorry but did I read rightly here? Weaker teams? In the IIHF World Rankings Sweden are ranked 1st while Finland are 2nd.

Weaker teams is correct, despite the ranking. Finland is a very good team, and they are disciplined and play a consistent game. They are the perfect team to capitalize on another team's mistakes, or to take advantage of someone who's playing as a bunch of individuals rather than as a team - which is precisely why they were in a great position to beat Russia. But they simply don't have the firepower to stay with teams with a lot of firepower (read: U.S. and Canada). Rask has been slightly off recently compared to earlier in the NHL season - his last handful of starts in Boston were so-so. (However, it was awesome seeing Selanne score last night). Sweden's very good, but they have injury problems and haven't seemed to be able to put it together as a team well enough yet.

This is the U.S.'s tournament to lose. Have fun paying for the bronze, Canada!

Oh my, Shark (Pavelski for USA) vs. Shark (Marleau for Canada), what am I to do? My loyalties are divided , Mother was born Canadian and Father was American. On top of that, the women's gold medal game is tonight and it's........you guessed it.....USA vs Canada.

@techall

We've got room on the U.S. team's bandwagon for you! Plus, fans of the Canadian national team aren't known for having a lot of class :D

I think when the puck drops I will be rooting for the U.S team but still hope Patrick has a good game too........Go U.S.A......(Go Sharks).

1 thing though, IF ITS ON BS1 and NOT NHK I WILL GO ABSOLUTELY MENTAL.

@Christopher Uppington My sentiments exactly. But I have a bad feeling they're going to show speed skating or some lame figure skating highlight reel at that time instead.

Also don't get me started on Japanese voice over dubbing.... Japanese TV sucks.

@TheOriginalWing:

San Jose Shark Marc Edouard-Vlasic also in the Canadian blue line........

@AJHC78

The Olympic coverage is horrible in Japan and if you are interested in a sport and no Japanese are in it don`t expect it to be on the tube. So pathetic. The games run all day in Sochi so why not show some complete coverage??? I just see spits and spats of the Japanese athletes only. Even TV is xenophobic.

http://gofirstrow.eu/sport/olympics.html

All sports shown live and in English.

gorin.jp has been good, too. Although watching with no commentary takes some getting used to.

The US vs Canada game(s) should be interesting from a penalty standpoint as well. My god the officiating is bad at the Olympics. I got away with more when I was in minor hockey back in Canada..

One thing is for sure...I'm bloody sleepy in the afternoons these days staying up all night watching hockey..haha.

The US doesn't have the biggest names as some of the other teams, but they're playing as a team well.

Teams have many NHL players, so they don't have much practice with each other, plus NHL rink is different size than Olympic-size rink, so teams have to adjust.

@TokyoDiman

Sfjp330... You are exactly right. The Russian team has no chance to practice since they arw pretty much stacked with NHL players and rules of the Olympic tournament are different.

No they aren't! They have 5, I think. They are stacked with KHL players. Apparently the bias towards the KHL players in the team by the coaching staff had Ovechkin and Malkin complaining.

If the 3rd goal was counted in the USA vs Russia game then the story would be different. The fact that the goal was not counted even though by NHL rules it should have been and no penalty was issued to quick for dislodging the goal(which he has done many times in the NHL) shows that its not just skill that's nessesary to win an Olympic game but precise knowledge of every loop hole in the rules. By all rights Russia should have won that game. they are clearly a more talented team. As for the finals...USA definitely will not make the final and it will probably be Sweden vs finland or Canada.

If you seriously think that Quick thought about dislodging the net in the split second that the shot was coming it, you're crazy. I agree that the goal was good and the Russians should have won that game. But, stuff like that happens. The IIHF have changed the rule regarding that to be the same as it is in the NHL.

no penalty was issued to quick for dislodging the goal(which he has done many times in the NHL)

It is far more difficult to dislodge a net in the NHL compared to the Olympic nets. So, I don't know where you are pulling that factoid out of.

As for the finals...USA definitely will not make the final and it will probably be Sweden vs finland or Canada.

Really? Sweden vs Finland or Canada? You do know that Sweden vs Finland in the final is impossible, right?

Sorry but did I read rightly here? Weaker teams?

Yes, you did read that right. Perhaps you should read the other comments and watch a few of the games that are left to understand.

@Probie You make some good points. NOBODY in my office cares about hockey so its good to have these discussions.

Of course I want Canada to take the gold, but worried about how things are not working out for them and how well the US is playing. I mean, 57-14 SOG? Gudlevskis, you da man! (i know a lot of the shots were on bad angles, but this guy played his arse off) On the US team, Kessel is doing amazing and they seems to be mashing well.

Even without your beloved Detroits Zetterberg or my beloved Vancouvers Hendrick, Swedens doing a mighty fine job too. Either way, It's gonna be a doozey of a final!!

tmarieFeb. 20, 2014 - 05:45PM JST Sorry but did I read rightly here? Weaker teams? Yes, you did read that right. Perhaps you should read the other comments and watch a few of the games that are left to understand.

Perhaps you shouldn't insult my country or Sweden. I have played Hockey since the age of 7 and been coaching since the age of 18 therefore I have more knowledge and understanding than a fairweather 'fan'. Do you honestly think that just because having a team stacked with NHL superstars is enough? I won't say that Canada and the US would automatically lose against Sweden or Finland because that's just stupid. My problem though is your comment stating that Sweden and Finland are 'weak' when that isn't the case. Or are teams that are ranked 1st and 2nd because they consistently do well in the Olympics and World Championships classed as weak in your eyes? Do you want to know why the likes of Finland do well? Because they have a good mix of NHL players and non NHL players who can work as a TEAM. Finland have the best record for winning medals at the Winter Games since the NHL players were allowed to participate at the 1998 games in Nagano. None of this was due to luck, but hard work as a team. Or is the only thing which matters to you is who's 'stronger' on paper? Because if that's the case than the USA shouldn't of defeated the USSR in what was known as the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 games.

How many of the games have you watch? Because if you watched any of it you would of seen that 2 teams who had the best offense in the qualification rounds were USA and Finland and that Finland have played consistently well throughout the entire tournament despite the fact that 4 of our most talented players are out injured. Finland are well known for having a very disciplined approach to defence alongside our great depth in world class goalies to choose from and within a few years our offense looks promising with the likes of Granlund and Barkov.

@AJHC78

If you are a Nucks fan, you won't like this, but I'm a Rangers fan.

I'd love to see Canada win too. I think the USA is a better "team" though.

I just want to enjoy the game, and it could be a classic!

I'd love for the USA to get the gold and have the Stars and Stripes raised while the Russians sit on their hands.

Btw, Rissia would still be in it if they had taken care of business, but the got OWNED by Finland. Stop whining.

Even as an an Aussie and an ice-hockey illiterate, I'd love to watch these two great teams in action. I imagine they will bash the living daylights out of each other - which I freely admit is the main reason I wish I could tune in!

Probie..here is a statement from a guy who plays with quick in LASOCHI, Russia – Russian defenseman Slava Voynov knows Team USA goalie Jonathan Quick well, as they're teammates with the Los Angeles Kings. Too well, maybe, because he knows all of Quick's little tricks — including those times when he'll dislodge the net intentionally during an opponents' onslaught. Saturday afternoon in Sochi, during Team USA's 3-2 shootout win against Russia in an Olympic preliminary showdown, may have been one of those times.

“I can tell you myself, because I am his teammate and I play with him. It is in his style to do something like that. Yes,” he said. “The question is why wasn’t it noticed? That’s the question to the referees."

finland is a good team that gets a chance to practice together far more than Russia. And if russia won that game with the USA, the americans would have to play Finland and would probably lose as well. And Russia would definitely win against Slovakia.

"I can tell you myself, because I am his teammate and I play with him. It is in his style to do something like that. Yes," he said. "The question is why wasn't it noticed? That's the question to the referees."

That's loser talk if ever seen one.